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| Tuesday, 12 November, 2002, 17:47 GMT Colombia's kidnap culture ![]() Kidnapping and drugs dominate Colombian news Bishop Jorge Enrique Jimenez, is the latest in a long line of Colombian kidnap victims. More people are kidnapped in Colombia than anywhere else in the world, with about 3,000 kidnappings every year. BBC News Online details some of the most recent. November 2002: Bishop Jorge Enrique Jimenez Bishop Jimenez is one of Latin America's most prominent clerics. He is Bishop of Zipaquira and head of the Latin American Episcopal Conference (Celam).
As well as heading Celam, Bishop Jimenez has served as secretary-general of the Episcopalian conference in Colombia, an overwhelmingly Catholic country. None of the rebel groups have claimed responsibility for kidnapping Bishop Jimenez but the army has blamed the main leftist rebel group, the Revolutionary Armed forces of Colombia (FARC). February 2002: Ingrid Betancourt On 23 February 2002, Ingrid Betancourt, a candidate in Colombia's presidential elections was abducted as she travelled into a former rebel safe haven.
She had always been a severe critic of the FARC, who were ordered out of the safe haven after former president Andres Pastrana declared the Colombian peace process dead. There has been confirmation that she is alive but still being held by the rebels. February 2002: Jorge Gechem Turbay
He was snatched when the FARC hijacked a domestic airliner, forcing it to land on a stretch of highway in Huila department. All the other passengers were freed. June 2001: Hernan Mejia Campuzano On 28 June Hernan Mejia Campuzano, vice-president of the Colombian Soccer Federation was kidnapped. The guerrillas released him on 29 June. July 2001: Former governor and development workers
On 15 July, FARC guerrillas in Meta department kidnapped the department's former governor, Alan Jara, while he was traveling in a clearly marked United Nations vehicle. A FARC statement issued later accuses Jara of paramilitary ties. September 1999: Commuter airline hijacked On 8 September, a FARC guerrilla named Arnubio Ramos hijacked a commuter airliner and forced it to land in San Vicente del Cagu�n in the FARC demilitarised zone. Government officials insisted the guerrillas turn Ramos over as an indication of their commitment to the peace process. But the guerrillas refused to release him, claiming Ramos hijacked the plane on his own account and that FARC bore no responsibility. May 1999: Entire church congregation.
Guerrillas burst into the church and herded 150 worshippers and the priest into trucks. April 1999: Passengers and crew of an airline On 12 April ELN fighters hijacked an Avianca Airlines flight bound from Bucaramanga to Bogota. They forced it to land and kidnapped all passengers and crew. Some analysts saw the kidnapping as an attempt by the ELN to show strength and gain greater concessions from the government in eventual talks. |
See also: 17 Mar 02 | Americas 20 Sep 02 | Correspondent 07 Aug 02 | Americas 24 Feb 02 | Americas Internet links: The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites Top Americas stories now: Links to more Americas stories are at the foot of the page. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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